Latin at Lorsch Monastery

Almost all of the books and archives collected in Lorsch Abbey are composed in Latin. Every monk had to acquire at least the basic skills required for liturgical duties; those with advanced language skills were able to read works by classical authors and church fathers. Lorsch played an important role in maintaining the legacy of authors from Antiquity. Virgil’s entire oeuvre was repeatedly transcribed throughout the centuries.

The Lorsch manuscripts

We work with copies of manuscripts from the 6th to the 16th centuries, all of which were found in the Lorsch Abbey Library and were also partially transcribed in Lorsch. The digital library contains manuscripts of Virgil’s oeuvre from various centuries. These texts can be used for reading, transcription and translation exercises. Critical comparisons and independent analyses of scripts can be carried out from simple copies. We would be happy to plan lessons in advance with teachers, taking into consideration students’ prior knowledge and learning objectives. These subjects can be combined with other options such as 'Writing and Illustration'.